History

1549

St. Francis Xavier comes to Japan.

1906

The Society of Jesus accepts the Pope Pius X's request to establish higher educational institution in Japan.

1908

Three Jesuit priests arrive in Japan again to prepare for the establishment of a university.

1911

Sophia School Corporation (Jochi Gakuin) is founded.

1913

Ministry of Education approves establishment of Sophia University under Special School Law.

1928

Sophia is reorganized as a full-fledged university under University Law.

1932

Night-school program of Sophia University is established; Fukuoka Catholic Seminary School is opened, which will be renamed to Taisei Junior High School (middle school under the pre-war school system ) in 1936.

1937

Rokko Junior High School is incorporated as an incorporated foundation, which will be reorganized and incorporated as Rokko Gakuin School Corporation in 1950.

1938

Rokko Junior High School (middle school under the pre-war school system) is opened.

1947

Rokko Junior High School is reorganized into Rokko Junior and Senior High School; Eiko Junior High School is opened, which will be renamed to Eiko Gakuen Junior High School in 1949

1948

Sophia University begins operation under provisions of post war School Education Law; Taisei Senior High School is opened.

1950

Eiko Gakuen Senior High School is opened.

1951

Sophia School Corporation as an academic legal entity is founded according to provisions of Private School Law; graduate programs at the Master's level are started; Taisei Gakuen Corporation is founded.

1956

Hiroshima Gakuin School Corporation is founded; Hiroshima Gakuin Junior High School is opened.

1957

Eiko Gakuen School Corporation is founded.

1959

Hiroshima Gakuin Senior High School is opened.

1964

Specialized training college courses in social welfare are started at Sophia.

1966

The social welfare courses are reorganized into a separate Specialized Training College named Sophia School of Social Welfare.

1973

Sophia Junior College is founded.

1976

Sophia School of Social Welfare is reorganized into a Professional Training College.

2011

School corporation Seibo Gakuen is merged with Sophia School Corporation, with Seibo Nursing School and Seibo College of Nursing merged into Sophia University; Taisei Junior and Senior High School renamed to Sophia Fukuoka Junior-Senior High School.

2012

Sophia Junior College is renamed to Sophia University Junior College Division.

2013

Celebration of 100th anniversary of Sophia University's founding, 40th anniversary of Sophia Junior College's founding, and 50th anniversary of Sophia School of Social Welfare's founding.

2016

A new Sophia School Corporation is structured based upon the merger of Sophia School Corporation, Eiko Gakuen School Corporation, Rokko Gakuin School Corporation, Hiroshima Gakuin School Corporation and Taisei Gakuen School Corporation.

2017

Sophia School Corporation Jesuit Education Center is founded.

2019

Pope Francis visits Sophia University.
Sophia Arrupe International Residence opened.

2020

Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF) launched in the departments of Education, Sociology, Economics, and Global Studies.
Sophia Professional Studies Program for adults launched.
Sophia Community College (Adult courses) closed.

2021

Center for Liberal Education and Learning established.
Department of Journalism added to Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF) .

2022

Department of Management added to Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF) .
Sophia School of Social Welfare closed.